“Wanna know why police are so agressive when approaching a vehicle no matter who is in it?”
So because officers, in the line of duty, run into insane criminals, now all American citizens should be ok with guns drawn on them when stopped by the police? I am sorry, but I am not ok with that thought process.
I am afraid that many people are losing sight of what it means to be an American citizen, and the rights inherent due to the sacrifice of those before us.
In no way, no matter how bad an officers day, week, month, or year have been, should they be immediately pointing a gun at any American citizen. That gun should only be drawn when coming up to level and firing.
This kind of stuff needs to be stopped. It seems that training is the big change between the old days and today. Officers should first be trained in the rights of the citizen, and how their first duty is to protect those rights, not curtail those rights for some perceived threat or safety for themselves. Officers, by the nature of their work, need to accept inherent risk. You cannot keep yourself 100% safe without infringing on the rights of innocent Americans.
For instance, having your service weapon pointed at the head of a 5mph speeder keeps you 100% safe, it does not however, keep the rights of that citizen safe and secure.
This is where the police of old really shined compared to those we see today. They accepted risk in order to keep our liberties in tact. Something to be proud of in my opinion, and something I wish more current officers would look up to.
Perhaps you haven’t heard all the situation:
“In a statement, Phoenix Police said the incident began when an officer was advised by store employees of shoplifting, and he was directed to people getting into a car. As the officer walked toward the vehicle, the car quickly backed up and started to leave the parking lot, police said.
The car stopped at another road, one of the women got out and the car then drove away. That woman was detained by the officer, who learned she had three misdemeanor warrants for her arrest, police said. The woman was later booked for the warrants, according to police.
The vehicle was later found in an apartment complex parking lot, and the man and woman inside were taken into custody and detained, police said. The woman told police that her aunt and child had gone into the store, and when the child came out with a doll, she believed they had stolen it because they didn’t have any money, according to police.”
The woman heard the officer in the parking lot tell the driver to stop several times, but he didn’t, police said.
The man said he knew they had shoplifted from the store and that he threw a stolen pair of underwear out the window, according to police.”
The parents were aware of the theft, they stole some things also, and left the store despite being called after by an officer and ignoring the call.
When does a simple misdemeanor theft turn ugly when the police try to detain the thieves? If you can answer that, then you would be the best police officer of military member that ever lived.
“So because officers, in the line of duty, run into insane criminals, now all American citizens should be ok with guns drawn on them when stopped by the police?”
This wasn’t any citizen. this was group of thieves that were running from the cops. If you don’t want to be treated like a criminal that could not be trusted not to open fired on someone, hen don’t be one.
“.....due to the sacrifice of those before us.”
So you find it admirable to think police officers should follow in the shoes of those that were murdered in the line of duty? A police officer’s job is not to die, it is to protect citizens, even from themselves. It’s like when the British Bobbies didn’t carry guns in England for many years. What are they going to do, say “stop, or I’ll say stop again?” Weapons are a tool, just like a tractor. And you’ll notice they got out of the car rapidly and when there was no possible threat, the guns were lowered. The tool did it’s job working with criminals.
“...people are losing sight of what it means to be an American citizen”
Making a decision on what to do is their right. If they chose to break the law, then they are at fault and will be treated accordingly. Additionally, making a decision to try to go around the law is one of those decision which is what they chose. And being a citizen is not trying to figure ways to get around the laws, but to follow them.
“That gun should only be drawn when coming up to level and firing.”
This isn’t the old west. The gun was used as a deterrent. Otherwise he would have just shot them. And by using it to protect himself and others, he might have saved some lives.
“...not curtail those rights for some perceived threat or safety for themselves.”
Again, these were not citizens, they were fleeing criminals. They’ve already proven they can’t be trusted. Don’t try to compare them to law abiding citizens that don’t receive this treatment.
I’ve been in their shoes a few times as a military cop. I am not going to die so someone who has proven themselves a criminal and can’t be trusted can take away my rights as a citizen, being able to live rather than be shot by some piece of dung person. And too many cops have been killed for that reason. I already showed you a small list of people that did it your way and they’re dead. Their families miss them. All the proud of them in the world won’t bring them back.
No one got harmed, everyone who was guilty of a crime was jailed, a good scenario. Hope for the next one to be as good. That way no one dies.
rwood